Australian cricketer Phillip Hughes has died after being struck by ball, a Cricket Australia official has announced on Twitter.
Hughes, 25, underwent emergency surgery and was in a critical condition in a Sydney hospital after he was hit on the head by a bouncer in a domestic first-class cricket match on Tuesday.
Hughes, who was wearing a protective batting helmet, reeled back and then bent forward momentarily after the impact of the short-pitch delivery before falling to the ground.
He was treated and ventilated on the field by medical experts, including doctors who were flown by helicopter onto the Sydney Cricket Ground, before being taken to nearby St Vincent's Hospital by ambulance.
David Faktor, hospital spokesman, said Hughes arrived in a critical condition and had scans before undergoing surgery.
The hospital confirmed later on Tuesday that Hughes was out of surgery and remained in a critical condition in intensive care.
The Sheffield Shield match between New South Wales, where Hughes was born and raised, and South Australia, where he used to play, was cancelled.
Hughes was considered a strong contender to play in the first Test against India next week if injured skipper Michael Clarke was forced out by a lingering hamstring strain.
He was batting confidently on 63 when he was hit on the back, left side of the head by a bouncer from New South Wales fast bowler Sean Abbott.
Hughes had played 26 Test matches for Australia since his debut in 2009 but was not been able to cement a regular spot in the starting line-up.
But it's happened a number of times.
RIP to the bruh
